About JEDI
JILA actively seeks and supports diversity and inclusivity as an integral element of excellence for a collaborative and world-leading research institute.
JILA has established a Standing Committee to advance effective diversity and inclusivity through education and activities within JILA and collaboratively with the CU community. The Standing Committee, JILA Excellence in Diversity and Inclusivity (JEDI), is led by JILA volunteers on a rotating basis. The JILA Chief of Operations is assigned to facilitate and support JEDI initiatives and work. The JILA Chair will appoint at least one JILA Fellow, as JEDI Fellow Advisor to provide oversight to the Committee and to meet with the Committee at least once annually. JEDI functions as a formally sanctioned self-nominated group open to all interested JILAns including Staff, Students, and Postdocs. JEDI will schedule and hold regular meetings open to all JILAns.
Mission Statement
JILA is a global leader in research and as such prioritizes a healthy, productive and inclusive work environment. JEDI is a group of faculty, staff, and student volunteers who provide guidance and information to JILA leadership in the process of improving JILA’s diversity, inclusivity, and workplace climate. JEDI is a safe place for hard conversations.
The JEDI Standing Committee
- examines the ways in which JILA is organized and operating to ensure that they exemplify excellence in diversity and inclusivity;
- recommends infrastructure and policy/process changes to help JILA leadership implement concrete and impactful improvements;
- proposes specific and measurable goals to advance JILA’s culture on both an institutional and an interpersonal level;
- promotes and offers education on issues of diversity and inclusivity; and
- partners with other campus organizations to maximize the impact of educational and awareness programs and events.
JEDI will prepare and present an annual report of activities, accomplishments and goals to the JILA Fellows not less frequently than annually.
2021 – 22 Goals
- Create Transparent and Functions Systems of Accountability
- Create a Resource Guide for JILA Community
- On-going and accessible professional development opportunities and skill-building around managerial skills, mentoring, social/emotional, communication
- Feedback and evaluation mechanisms from directly affected community members
- Team building events and activities
Our Team
Beth
Kroger
Beth Kroger is the Chief of Operations/Chief of Staff of JILA. She graduated from Dakota Wesleyan University with a BA in Business Management and from the University of South Dakota with an MBA. Beth was selected as an inaugural Thrivent Fellow for leadership, taught leadership at the collegiate level and studied academic leadership at Harvard University. Beth has a passion for people and doing what she can to support and encourage the discovery and development of each person’s unique gifts, skills and talents. Beth lives in Longmont with her husband, John and their two awesome dogs Bilbo Baggins, a Wheaten Terrier and Obi Wan, a golden retriever. She has two children, Amy and Shawn and two grandchildren, Orion and Roman. She also loves chocolate—donations are always appreciated!
Kenna
Castleberry
Kenna Castleberry is the Science Communicator at JILA and the co-leader of JILA JEDI. She’s written several articles discussing diversity in the quantum industry, as well as how deep technology can address the digital divide. She is also the writer for the article series “Women in Quantum,” for The Quantum Daily. Kenna personally believes that science should be accessible for all individuals, no matter the background. When she isn’t writing or nerding out about science, she hosts two podcasts as well as loves biking, playing computer games, and doing archery. She is based in the Broomfield area and lives with her fiancé and dog.
Madison
Foreman
Madison Foreman is a 4th year doctoral candidate in the Weber group here at JILA, where she uses gas phase ion spectroscopy to study CO2-reduction catalysts. She is co-chair of the JILA Hiring Practices Committee: a team of faculty, staff, and students working to create guidelines for equitable hiring at all levels in JILA. When she’s not in the lab or a conference room, Madison enjoys diving head-first into a new hobby every other week and striking up conversations with strangers.
Gayle
Geschwind
Lauren
Mason
Lauren Mason was born and raised in Littleton, Colorado. She received Bachelor of Arts degrees in Women & Gender Studies and Ethnic Studies from CU Boulder in 2012. Lauren began her career at JILA as an undergraduate student in JILA Reception and is currently the Director of Communication & Operations at the STROBE Science & Technology Center. Led by Dr. Margaret Murnane in collaboration with a core team of faculty and staff across the United States, STROBE aims to advance imaging science and build supportive pathways and community with all students, postdocs, and faculty in STEM. Lauren lives in Boulder County with her companion in life, Leo, and their two spectacular cats, Finnegan and Mika.
Mike
Bennett
Mike Bennett is the Director of Education and Workforce Development at the Q-SEnSE NSF Quantum Leap Challenge Institute housed within JILA. Prior to that, he worked as the JILA NSF Physics Frontier Center Director of Public Engagement. Mike’s work has focused primarily on improving access to physics education, especially for underrepresented groups. When not at work, Mike is a craft cocktail hobbyist and an amateur karaoke performer, and DMs for his D&D group.